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Related Concept Videos

Ion Exchange01:17

Ion Exchange

Ion exchange chromatography separates charged molecules from a solution by reversibly exchanging them with mobile, or 'active', ions associated with the oppositely charged stationary phase. This method can be used to separate ions, soften and deionize water, and purify solutions. The polymers comprising the ion-exchange column are high-molecular-weight and chemically stable polymers, crosslinked to be porous and essentially insoluble. They are also functionalized with either acidic or basic...
Anionic Chain-Growth Polymerization: Overview01:20

Anionic Chain-Growth Polymerization: Overview

The polymerization process that involves carbanion as an intermediate is called anionic polymerization. It is also a type of addition or chain-growth polymerization. Anionic polymerization gets initiated by a strong nucleophile such as an organolithium or a Grignard reagent. The most commonly used initiator for anionic polymerization is butyl lithium. Monomers involved in anionic polymerization must possess a vinyl group bonded to one or two electron-withdrawing groups. For instance,...
Cationic Chain-Growth Polymerization: Mechanism00:57

Cationic Chain-Growth Polymerization: Mechanism

The cationic polymerization mechanism consists of three steps: initiation, propagation, and termination. In the initiation step of the polymerization process, the π bond of a monomer gets protonated by the Lewis acid catalyst, which is formed from boron trifluoride and water. The protonation of the π bond generates a carbocation stabilized by the electron‐donating group. In the propagation step, the π bond of the second monomer acts as a nucleophile and attacks the generated carbocation,...
Characteristics and Nomenclature of Copolymers01:24

Characteristics and Nomenclature of Copolymers

Copolymers are the products obtained from the polymerization of multiple monomer species. So, in a polymer chain itself, there can be multiple repeating units that come from different monomers. The process of synthesizing a polymer from different monomer species is called copolymerization. When two monomers are involved, the polymer is known as a bipolymer. Polymers with three and four monomers are termed terpolymers and quaterpolymers, respectively. Figure 1 depicts the copolymerization of...
Ziegler–Natta Chain-Growth Polymerization: Overview01:17

Ziegler–Natta Chain-Growth Polymerization: Overview

Ziegler–Natta polymerization is another form of addition or chain‐growth polymerization used for synthesizing linear polymers over branched polymers. The catalyst used for polymerization is the Ziegler–Natta catalyst, named after Karl Ziegler and Giulio Natta, who developed it in 1953. This catalyst is an organometallic complex of titanium tetrachloride and triethyl aluminum, with the active form of the catalyst being an alkyl titanium compound. Using the Ziegler–Natta catalyst, high molecular...
Anionic Chain-Growth Polymerization: Mechanism01:04

Anionic Chain-Growth Polymerization: Mechanism

The mechanism for anionic chain-growth polymerization involves initiation, propagation, and termination steps. In the initiation step, a nucleophilic anion, such as butyl lithium, initiates the polymerization process by attacking the π bond of the vinylic monomer. As a result, a carbanion, stabilized by the electron‐withdrawing group, is generated. The resulting carbanion acts as a Michael donor in the propagation step and attacks the second vinylic monomer, which acts as a Michael acceptor.

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Updated: Jun 29, 2026

Using Polystyrene-block-poly(acrylic acid)-coated Metal Nanoparticles as Monomers for Their Homo- and Co-polymerization
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Using Polystyrene-block-poly(acrylic acid)-coated Metal Nanoparticles as Monomers for Their Homo- and Co-polymerization

Published on: July 9, 2015

Functionalization Enhanced Phase Separation in PS-b-PVP Derived Polyzwitterionic Block Copolymers.

Polyxeni P Angelopoulou1, Jong K Keum2,3,4, Marti Checa3

  • 1Chemical Sciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN, USA.

Macromolecular Rapid Communications
|June 27, 2026
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Researchers synthesized novel polyzwitterionic block copolymers for advanced nanostructures. These materials enable ultra-small, periodic nanostructures below 10 nm, crucial for microelectronics and membranes.

Keywords:
block copolymershigh‐χ block copolymersphase separationpolyzwitterions

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Self-assembling Morphologies Obtained from Helical Polycarbodiimide Copolymers and Their Triazole Derivatives
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Self-assembling Morphologies Obtained from Helical Polycarbodiimide Copolymers and Their Triazole Derivatives

Published on: February 7, 2017

Area of Science:

  • Polymer Chemistry
  • Materials Science
  • Nanotechnology

Background:

  • Block copolymers are crucial for microelectronics and membranes, requiring precise nanostructures below 10 nm.
  • Polyzwitterionic segments offer high phase separation due to ion association, enabling controlled nanostructure formation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To develop a scalable synthesis for polyzwitterionic block copolymers.
  • To investigate the thermophysical and phase separation properties of these novel copolymers.
  • To establish structure-property relationships for achieving ultra-small nanostructures.

Main Methods:

  • Two-step modification of poly(styrene)-block-poly(vinylpyridine) (PS-b-PVP) to poly(styrene)-block-poly(vinylpyridine carboxybetaine).
  • Characterization of thermophysical properties and phase separation behavior.
  • Analysis of nanostructure dimensions using relevant techniques.

Main Results:

  • Achieved ultra-small, periodic nanostructures with half-spacing as low as 5.3 nm.
  • Demonstrated a scalable synthetic route to pH-responsive polyzwitterions.
  • Established a link between polymer design and phase separation for neutral-block-polyzwitterionic systems.

Conclusions:

  • Developed a versatile method for creating advanced polyzwitterionic block copolymers.
  • The synthesized materials yield nanostructures suitable for next-generation electronic and membrane applications.
  • This work provides a foundation for designing block copolymers with tailored nanostructures.